Method of identifying individuals



July :0, 1928. I 1.676.495

' W. MCK, HAMMOND METHOD OF IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS Filed J35 21, 1926 N ENTOR Mom Patented July 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM McKINLEY HAM OND, or DES MOINES, IOWA.

METHOD OF IDE1\T'.[II|3YI1\TG INDIVIDUALS.

Application filed'January 21, 1926. Serial No. 82,708

This invention relates to the combination of a photographic portrait and finger print of an individual for identification purposes,

' and the method of obtaining the same.-

The principal object of this invention is to increase the efiiciency and economy of identifying individuals.

Afurther object of this invention is to provide a means whereby a simple record index system may be employed for the positive identification of individuals.

More specifically the object of this invention is to provide a small photostat or photograph of the subject and one or more finger prints, all of which are printed from one negative.

Another object is to provide a photographic portrait and finger print of the sub-- ject on one card, which may be easily car ried by a policeman, operator, or the like.

A further object is to provide a means whereby the negative of the subject and the transparent paper carrying the impression of the finger print of the subject, will print on sensitized paper at approximatelythe same speed.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consistsin the method hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying draw-- 'ings. in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a section of an ordinary filing cabinet having visible index cards and filing matter such as my identification cards.

Fig. 2 is a front view of my identification card filed in a filing cabinet as Fig. 1. On the index cards are indicia such as finger print classifications.

Fig. 3 is a view of the negative from which my identification cards are printed. A section is cut away to more fully illustrate the means of anchoring a piece of transparent paper having the finger print of the subject, in a notch cut in the negative. Fig.4 is a perspective view of a piece of transparent paper adaptable for the receiving of the impression of a finger print, and the means employed to secure it to a negative.

' Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view ofthe piece of transparent paper designed to receive the impression of a finger print, and

the means of securing it to the negative. It is taken on line 5-=5 of Flg. 3.

The present method of identification used by Federal, State, and municipal governments is very slow' and complicated. To identify a person it is of course necessary to classify his finger prints. By looking under that particular classification one will find, perhaps many large sheets of fingerprints, all having that classification. To determine the finger prints sought, one must either minutely study the details of all the finger prints under that particular classification, or obtain the number from each sheet of finger prints and look up each number in another file which contains thefile history and photograph of the person sought to be identified, provided of course that person has been finger printed and recorded before. The use of the photograph is however not conclusive but it facilitates the finding of the record of the person sought to be identified. Another disadvantage of the present system resides in the search for individuals wanted by the authorities. If a person is wanted, who is at large, a metal etching of the portrait and finger print of the subject is made, and prints made from the etching are sent to various other local ities. This method is not only costly, but oftimes persons who are not wanted are arrested and taken to headquarters, merely on the fact that they look like the portrait posted on the bulletin board at headquarters.

An inspection of his finger prints and those of the man wanted at headquarters prove that the wrong person was arrested. My means of identification overcome all these disadvantages, as will hereafter be understood.

I have used the numeral 10 to designate the ordinary exposed negative similar to those used 1n all bureaus of identification.

It has an impression of a front view 11 and a side view 12 of the subject. Between these two impressions I hape cut a notch 13. On a piece of transparent paper 14 whose outside dimension are approximately the sa me as the inside dimensions of the notch 13, I

negative so that it ject when his pictures is taken.

cation of the finger prints of a person, to-

cent the sensitized side of the photographicpaper when making a print of the complete will correspond to the photographic negative when printed. This is just opposite from the arrangement of the photographic negative to the sensitized paper which requires the sensitized side of the photographic negative to be adjacent the sensitized side of the photographic paper when printing.- To permanently secure this transparent paper in the notch 13, I have used a strip of paper 16, channel shaped in cross section and having its inside sub jected to glue or the like. The strip of paper is designed to embrace the top marginal edge of the transparent paper 14 and a portion of the top marginal edge of the negative 10 on each side of the notch 13, as is shown in Fig. 3. The complete device is now capable of giving photographic impressions to sensitized paper commonly used for that purpose. So that the negative itself and the transparent paper 14 will print at approximately the same speed, the transparent paper used is colored, preferably red. Another method is to use clear transparent paper, and when printing, place a similar sized piece of colored paper over the transparent paper and the sensitized sheet. It will readily be seen that by the use of this completed negative, as many photographic impressions as is desired may be obtained. Each of these impressions or prints will contain a front and side portrait of the subject, at least one finger print, a notation as to which finger the print is taken from, a complete classification of all the finger prints of the subject, and the number of the subject and the city? This number and city is obtained by the usual tag 17 having the number and city printed thereon, which is attached to the person of the sub- The numeral 18 designates an filing cabinet having the visible index cards '19. On the projections 20 of these cards are written the various finger print classifications. A photographic print 21 obtained from a negative similar to the one shown in Fig. 3 of every subject recorded may cheaply be had and filed in proper classification in the cabinet. \Vhen such a means of identification is so indexed, identification is quick and sure. It is not necessary, as it is in the old system, to minutely study the patterns of the various finger prints, as the portrait of the subject is a ordinary quick guide. This is particularly so, due to the fact that there could be only a very few subjects filed under that particular classification. It is found well to make the photographic impressions on the ordinary photographic: post cards and trim the same down to fit the 3" by 5 files. Any desired filing system may be used. In searching for a person the printing on post cards have at least two advantages. As many as desired of these economical cards may be printed in a very short time and sent at once to localities Where it is suspected that the person might be. In such cases it is only necessary to write the addresson the post card itself. These small cards may be carried easily in the coat pocket of a policeman or operator and when a person is suspected of being the individual sought, it is merely necessary to compare his finger print to the one on the card, thus preventing the arrest of an innocent person for investigation. If a picture of the card 21 is taken, an unmutilated negative is produced.

ll claim as my invention:

1. A method of producing a device for the identification of an individual which consists in preparing a photographic likeness of the individual in negative on a film, cutting a section out of said film, preparing a finger print of-the individual on a sheet of paper, fitting said sheet into the opening in said film and making a photographic print through said negative and paper simultaneously whereby a reproduction of the likeness and finger print are combined in the same print.

2. A method of producing a device for the identification of an individual which consists 'in preparing a photographic likeness of the individual in negative on a film, cutting a section out of said film, preparing a finger print of the individual on a sheet of paper having the same printing time as said film, fitting said sheet into the opening in said film and making a photographic print through said negative and sheet of paper simultaneously whereby a reproduction of the likeness and finger print are combined in the same print.

3. A method of producing a device for the identification of an individual which consists in preparing a photographic likeness of the individual in negative on a film cutting a section out of said film, preparing a finger print of the individual on'a colored translucent film, writing indicia on said translucent film, fitting said translucent film into the opening in said film and making a photographic print through said negative and translucent film simultaneously whereby a reproduction of the likeness and finger print of the individual and indicia are combined in the same print.

lVILLllAM MCKKNLEY HAMMQND. 

